Study in Kazakhstan: Admission, Cost, Visa and Scholarships (2027)

Nazarbayev University, founded in Astana in 2010 and described by the university as Kazakhstan's first global-level autonomous research university, admits international students to its foundation year, bachelor's and master's programmes. For 2026-27 it charges USD 12,000 for the foundation year, USD 15,000 a year for bachelor's programmes and USD 16,000 for master's programmes, stating that undergraduate fees are the same for local and international students. Top international candidates can receive merit-based Abay Kunanbayev scholarships, recommended by each school's admissions committee, covering tuition, medical insurance and a monthly stipend.

The application calendar runs from late September. For 2026-27, international undergraduates competing for grants applied by 10 February 2026, and fee-paying international applicants who need a visa before arrival by 17 July 2026. Nazarbayev University also runs a fee-paying mid-year undergraduate intake for the spring semester, with online applications from 18 August to 28 November 2026. Applicants pay a 10,000 tenge application fee, tripled in the last two weeks.

English requirements are IELTS 6.0 overall with 6.0 in writing for bachelor's study and 5.5 for the foundation year, or the TOEFL equivalent published by ETS; online and home editions are not accepted.

Foreign citizens travelling to Kazakhstan to study at an institution offering higher or postgraduate education need an education visa, category C9, based on an invitation registered with the Ministry of Internal Affairs or a letter of petition. The Kazakh consulate in Hamburg lists it as single entry for up to 90 days or multiple entry for up to a year, processed in up to five working days, though consular fees differ between missions. Foreign qualifications are recognised through ENIC Kazakhstan, applied for via eGov.kz or a public service centre, in 15 to 45 working days depending on the channel and whether documents are legalised.

Admission to Nazarbayev University's bachelor's programmes is competitive and test based. Besides English, international applicants show academic ability through the university's own NUET entrance test in mathematics and critical thinking, or through a Digital SAT score of 1240, an ACT composite of 26, an International Baccalaureate total of 30 or A levels of at least ABB. Master's applicants apply to individual schools, most of which ask for Academic IELTS 6.0 and may waive it for degrees taught in English. The university treats local and international students alike on tuition, and residents of Kazakhstan pay in tenge at its internal exchange rate while international students are billed in US dollars.